Material fastening apparatus



Nov. 4, 1969 v. R. Aus'roN 3,476,301

MATERIAL FASTENING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 196'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ou //GMMQ ATTORNEY 4 Nov. 4, 1969 v. R. AusToN MATERIAL FASTENING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shes?l 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1967 -xNvEN'roR Vernon Aus/on n; L., di /wm ATTORNEY United States Patent Oce 3,476,301 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 3,476,301 MATERIAL FASTENING APPARATUS Vernon R. Auston, P.O. Box 17042, Dallas, Tex. Filed Sept. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 666,606

Int. Cl. B25c 5/06 U.S. Cl. 227-25 Claims ABSTRACT 0F' THE DISCLOSURE The invention primarily relates to the installation of batt insulation between oor joists prior to putting down flooring, whereby strips of material are secured across the joists leaving slack in the strip between each pair of joists for supporting and holding the insulation in a close proximity to the lower surface of the floor. Beneath llooring insulation is normally accomplished manually by fastening netting or other supporting media to the bottom of the floor joists, which is very difficult because of foundations obstructions and the inability to provide a good insulation seal adjacent the outside walls. Moreover, the insulation is then spaced below the door. This type of operation, along with being ineicient and costly in terms of man hours, does not generally provide a suitable insulation installation.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for simultaneously positioning and fastening strip material to building joists while at the same time introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the strip material between each pair of joists for accommodating a uniform thickness of insulation. It is a further object to provide a tool wherein the amount of slack introduced in the strip material between the joists is adjustable to adapt to various thickness of insulation. p

In accordance with the principles of the invention, an apparatus is provided for laying and fastening strip material. The apparatus comprises a frame, a fastening device mounted adjacent to the lower end of the frame, and gauge means secured to and extending downwardly from the lower end of the frame for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the strip material as it is laid. A holder for a supply of strip material is attached to the frame to dispense material beneath the fastening device as it is pulled through the gauge means as the operator moves lfrom joist to joist.

One embodiment of the tool is constructed for use with the operator in a standing position. In this embodiment, the frame comprises a housing for holding the fastening means and includes an elongated handle for operating the tool in a standing position. The fastening means comprises an impact or hammer stapler. A gauge member is slideably attached to the front side of the frame and extends below the lower end of the frame to terminate at its end in a guide for the strip material.

Another embodiment of the apparatus employs a hand operated lever type staple gun wherein the frame is a U-shaped channel member. The staple gun is secured in the channel, and an opening is provided in the bottom of the channel beneath the staple dispensing port of the stapler. A gauge member similar to that employed in the first embodiment is slideably attached to the front of the frame channel and protrudes downwardly therefrom. The lower end of the gauge member terminates in a guide for the material, a pair of outwardly extending arms are provided at the back of the frame channel for holding a roll of material, and guides are positioned on the frame for directing the material beneath the staple opening in the frame as it is pulled through the guide portion of the gauge member during operation of the tool.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the several figures, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in FIGURE 1 additionally showing the strip material dispensing means;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of this embodiment;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of this tool showing its application for stapling strip material to a series of joists;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing a tool in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of this embodiment.

FIGURES 1-4 show a tool constructed in accordance with a rst embodiment of the invention, whereby this tool can be employed by the operator while in a standing position. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the tool denoted generally by numeral 10, comprises a housing 12 having a fastening device 14, in this case an impact stapler, secured therein by screws 16 and 18 (shown in phantom) passing through the bottom of the rearward extension 15 of the housing within which the staple magazine 21 is housed. The stapler is mounted in a normal operating position with the impact arm 20 extending downwardly from the housing for contacting the oor joist. An elongated handle 22 is attached to a handle receptacle 23 at the top of the housing by screws 24. As shown in FIG- URES 2 and 4, a pair of opposing and forwardly extending arms 26 and 27 are attached to the handle 22 by bolts 28. The arms are adapted to grasp a roll 29 of strip material 30 between their outer ends for rotation of the roll therebetween for dispensing the strip material as it is pulled from the roll. A pair of arms 31 and 32 of a gauge member extend through the housing in a vertical position and are held within brackets 33 and 34, respectively, attached to the inner sides of the housing, also shown in FIGURE 3. Bolts 36 secure the brackets V33 and 34 t0 the inner sides of the housing. When these bolts are tightened, the gauge arms are held securely within the brackets, and by loosening the bolts, the gauge member arms can be moved either upward or downward as will be explained in more detail below. The gauge member further comprises a guide 37 secured between the lower ends 38 and 39 of arms 31 and 32, respectively, and the surface of the guide across which the strip material is guided and pulled is recessed above the ends 38 and 39, thus preventing the strip material from sliding olf the side of the guide. The lower ends 38 and 39 of the gauge are flared outwardly for convenience in threading the strip material therebetween, although it is sufficient for the end to be in alignment with the arms 31 and 32, respectively, to form a continuation thereof.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 the roll of strip material is inserted between the holder arms 26 and 27 and is free to rotate about a horizontal axis. The strip material is then pulled downward and threaded between the impact arm 20 and the front face of the staple gun, there being provided a suitable opening in the conventional impact staple gun. The strip material is then thread- Ved between the lower ends 38 aud 39 of the gauge such that it rides over the guide 37 and extends rearward of the face of the implement. An additional guide 42 can be provided on the front side of the handle 22 through which the strip material feeds between the supply roll and the staple gun. This primarily prevents the strip mate'rialfrom being snagged on protruding objects and maintains a slightly greater tension in the strip.

The manner of operation of the tool of this particular embodiment is shown in FIGURE 4. There is shown a sequence of floor joists 48, 50, 52 and 54 to which the strip material is to be fastened to hold batt insulation 56. The tool is positioned on the joist as shown in FIGURE 4 with the staple magazine of the stapler positioned perpendicular to the joist and projecting back toward the preceding joist on top of which the strip material has just been stapled. In this position, the gauge extending below the tool abuts the side of the joist and extends downwardly from the top thereof. Simultaneously, the impact arm is positioned on the top of the joist, with the handle extending upwardly. The operator of the tool is normally in an upright position standing on the -joist and can operate the tool by means of the elongated handle. As the tool is brought down on the top of the joist as shown in this figure, the edge of the joist causes the strip material between the guide 37 and the staple Aejection port to be pushed up -ush against the staple ejection port and on top of the joist. As the tool is urged downward on the joist, the actuating arm 20 is forced upwardto cause a staple to be ejected and driven through that portion of the strip Imaterial bound between the staple ejection port 21 on the bottom of the stapler and `the top of the joist. As this occurs, the strip material is held taut between the guide 37 and the last preceding joist to which the strip material was stapled.

It has been noted that the gauge is selectively adjustable as to the distance below the stapler that the guide 37 is positioned. For any particular operation, the position of the gauge is set to position the guide a predetermined distance below the bottom of the stapler. Thus as the strip is stapled to the top of the joist, an amount of slack is introduced in the strip beween this joist and the preceding-joist in an amount equal to the length 57 of the 'taut strip material between the preceding joist and the bottom of the g-uide plus the distance 59 of the guide below the top of the joist less the distance 58 between two adjacent joists. After the strip material has been stapled to the top of the joist, the tool is lifted from the top of the joist and raised thereover and the operator proceeds to the next joist. The condition of the strip material then appears as shown between joists 50` and 52.

To support batt insulation, a plurality of laterally spaced apart lengths of the strip material are stapled between the joists, and the batt insulation is then layed in between the joists on the strip material. As the batt insulation is urged down below the top of the joists, the strip material becomes taut to provide a horizontal support thereunder. The amount of slack that is left in the strip material between adjacent joists is predetermined and the gauge is set accordingly, so that the top of the Vbatt insulation is approximately level with the top of the joists, as shown between adjacent joists S2 and 54.

It will' be understood that the strip material is continually dispensed until the tool is urged downward so-that the staple ejection port binds the strip material to the top of the joists. At this point, the strip material is held taut in place while it is stapled. Thus as the tool is urged downward to eject the staple, the gauge also is urged downward in con-junction therewith, which increases the amount of slack in the strip material by the small incremental movement of the impact bar upward to eject the staple.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus is adapted for rapid and eiient operation, wherein the Operator mereatzasoi ly walks from joist to joist while hammering the tool against each joist as he proceeds. No critical visual alignment is required as the cooperation between the impact arm 20 and the gauge forming a ninety degree shoulder enables the rapid and eilicient alignment of the tool in relation to the joist in the proper orientation.

Another embodiment of the apparatus is shown in FIGURES 5-7 which is adapted for operation with a hand operated staple kgun as contrasted to an impact staple gun. The tool comprises a frame 62 in the form of a U-shaped channel member having a pair of rearward extensions 64 and 66 projecting upward at an angle. Inwardly projecting hubs 68 are attached to the inner surfaces of extensions 64 and 66 so that a roll 6l) of strip material 71 -may be rotatably held therebetween. A fasteningfdevice 72, preferably a hand stapler operated by hand lever 73, is mounted face down in the channel member 62 and as shown in the bottom view of FIGURE 7, a floor 74 is provided between the sides of the channel 62 with an opening 75 provided in the floor adjacent the front end thereof to expose the staple ejection port 76 of the stapler. Referring again to IFIGURE 5, a pair of gauge arms 78 and 80 having elongated slots 82 and 84 therein, respectively, at a central portion thereof, are slideably attached to either side of the channel member, suitably by wing nuts 86, disposed in front of the stapler 72. A guide 88 is formed between the lower ends of the gauge members 7S and 80 for directing the path of the material '70.,Referring also to FGURE 6, the material 71 is fed from the roll through a guide bracket 90 attached to the rear underside of the channel 62, and as the tool is placed down upon a joist 9-2, the material is caused to be brought up underneath the staple injection port 76 so that actuation of lever 73 will cause a staple to be driven through the port to fasten the material to the top of the joist.

As in the case of the rst embodiment, the gauge members 78 and 80 and guide 88 cause the material to course a path between the top of the joist 92, down across the guide and the top of an adjacent joist, so that when the tool is removed a certain amount of slack will be left in the material. It will also be noted that by loosening the wing-nuts 86, the gauge arms may be adjusted upward and downward to cause a greater or lesser amount of slack to be disposed in the material to accommodate various thicknesses of insulation.

This embodiment is particularly adapted for use in close quarter operations where space does not permit the use of the first embodiment because of its long handle.

The invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, but other modifications and substitutions that do not depart from the true scope thereof will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for positioning and .fastening strip material between spaced apart joists to provide a predetermined amount of slack in said material when fastened, comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) gauge means attached to and extending below the lower end of said frame across which said strip material passes;

(c) holder means for holding a supply of said material attached to said frame for dispensing said material across the lower end of said frame as said strip material is pulled across said gauge means when fastened to a preceding joist; and

(d) fastening means mounted to said frame adjacent said lower end thereof across which said strip material passes between said holder means and said gauge means for fastening said strip material to a joist when said strip material passing across said fastening means is positioned on said joist.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gauge means comprises a guide at the lower end thereof across which said strip material passes, said gauge means being slideably attached to said frame for selectively adjusting the distance of said guide below said fastening means to provide predetermined amounts of slack in said strip material between said spaced apart joists. t

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises an impact stapler actuated to staple said strip material to said joist when urged against said joist.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a stapler actuated to fasten said strip material to said joist by a hand operated lever.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fasten.- ing means comprises a stapler exposed at the staple ejecting port for being urged against said joist, said strip material passes across said frame adjacent said staple ejection port, and said gauge means across the lower end of which said strip material passes is displaced horizontally from said staple ejection port, thereby to cause said strip material to be held between said staple ejection port and said joist when said stapler is urged against said joist.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said gauge means comprises arm means slideably attached to said frame and extending below the lower end of said 4frame terminating in a guide across which said strip material passes for selectively adjusting the distance of said guide below said staple ejection port to provide predetermined amounts of slack in said strip material between said spaced apart joists, said arm means being spaced horizontally with respect to said staple ejecting port to bear against the side of said joist when said stapler is urged downward against the top of said joist.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame comprises means to which said fastening means is mounted and an elongated handle attached thereto extending upward therefrom for being grasped by an operator for urging said apparatus against said joist.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said holder means is mounted on said elongated handle above said fastening means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said frame comprises a housing for said stapler having an opening therein spaced beneath the staple ejection port of said stapler for permitting passage of a staple from said stapler therethrough.

10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said stapler includes a frame having a portion thereof shaped to define a handle for grasping by an operator in conjunction with said lever such that said lever is squeezed toward said handle portion to actuate said stapler.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,291,356 12/1966 Armstrong 227-156 XR 3,319,864 5/1967 Adams 227-76 GRANVLLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. .227"-156 

